Kobe, in disagreeing with a call late in last nights game, called the referee a "fucking faggot". Theres a report and video out there with what happened but I'm at work and cant post it currently. It's all over the net though. Realgm already has 50 pages on the topic. Crazy.

I saw him say that and you could tell immediately and I think that fine is blown out of proportion. Lord knows a ref has been called that before to his face; Koby only got in trouble because he said it while a camera was right on him. Point is it was the heat of the game and he thought it was a bad call and used some choice words and those words are his choice. Taking it for anything more than that is a waste of time and effort. South Park did a whole episode on this for a reason.

I saw him say that and you could tell immediately and I think that fine is blown out of proportion. Lord knows a ref has been called that before to his face; Koby only got in trouble because he said it while a camera was right on him. Point is it was the heat of the game and he thought it was a bad call and used some choice words and those words are his choice. Taking it for anything more than that is a waste of time and effort. South Park did a whole episode on this for a reason.

What if he called him a nigger? how big would the fine have been then?

Please do not learn your right and wrongs from south park....I love the show but......come on

What if he called him a nigger? how big would the fine have been then?

Please do not learn your right and wrongs from south park....I love the show but......come on

If you saw the episode you'd realize it's about understanding the use of words in context and how insults change over time, the word faggot in particular. Given the context that Kobe used the word, I see no reason for the (over)reaction that has occurred. Like he said in his press release; it was in the heat of the game, he was frustrated with a bad call that took him out of a close game, it has nothing to do with his views toward the LGBT community. To insinuate otherwise is a knee-jerk reaction that doesn't take context into account. Do I have to add again that he said it to himself, sitting on the bench, and the only reason anyone is hearing a peep about it is because they had a camera trained on him?

If you saw the episode you'd realize it's about understanding the use of words in context and how insults change over time, the word faggot in particular. Given the context that Kobe used the word, I see no reason for the (over)reaction that has occurred. Like he said in his press release; it was in the heat of the game, he was frustrated with a bad call that took him out of a close game, it has nothing to do with his views toward the LGBT community. To insinuate otherwise is a knee-jerk reaction that doesn't take context into account. Do I have to add again that he said it to himself, sitting on the bench, and the only reason anyone is hearing a peep about it is because they had a camera trained on him?

Nigger, Kike, Chink, Gook....

I suppose if you are ok with all these words being tossed around...I have no argument.

I wonder how the families, of the kids who got beaten to death, or the ones that killed themselves because of the power of that word feel. The words have power, and Kobe should know better.

The reason this has become a big deal is because it was caught on camera, so they have to address it. Players say stuff like this all the time, lets not kid ourselves. I say stuff like this time to time in the heat of the moment. It's more understandable than unacceptable.

How in the hell does shouting something like that constitute saying something to himself? And was he questioning his own sexuality? I'm completely confused by the context now.

Here's context. He disliked what the ref did. He pulled out something he thought was terrible to shout at that ref in a crowded arena, and yes - while a camera was on him (when isn't a camera on Kobe?). And that is entirely unacceptable. does it mean he hates homosexuals? Not necessarily, but that doesn't make it any less hurtful to a whole lot of people potentially. Please don't put it on those that could be hurt by the angry use of words to minimize it like so many want to. Kobe is a responsible adult and he needs to accept responsibility for some poor actions.

If you saw the episode you'd realize it's about understanding the use of words in context and how insults change over time, the word faggot in particular. Given the context that Kobe used the word, I see no reason for the (over)reaction that has occurred. Like he said in his press release; it was in the heat of the game, he was frustrated with a bad call that took him out of a close game, it has nothing to do with his views toward the LGBT community. To insinuate otherwise is a knee-jerk reaction that doesn't take context into account. Do I have to add again that he said it to himself, sitting on the bench, and the only reason anyone is hearing a peep about it is because they had a camera trained on him?

i take you right back to the point i made about the word retard. it's the transference of stigma that is the issue, not the context. the context is precisely what people hide behind when they intend to insult by transferring stigma, but it is the assumed stigma that remains attached to the original insult that still carries weight.

The reason this has become a big deal is because it was caught on camera, so they have to address it. Players say stuff like this all the time, lets not kid ourselves. I say stuff like this time to time in the heat of the moment. It's more understandable than unacceptable.

Somebody answer it...

Would "nigger" have been ok, if Nash said it to Kobe in "the heat of the moment?

The reason this has become a big deal is because it was caught on camera, so they have to address it. Players say stuff like this all the time, lets not kid ourselves. I say stuff like this time to time in the heat of the moment. It's more understandable than unacceptable.

This is a sad commentary. I would hope that would change and be seen as the reverse.

People can't be understanding that he said something unacceptable in the heat of the moment and it doesn't constitute what he actually thinks of a certain topic? I didn't say it was acceptable, but I can see that what he said doesn't mean what he said.